Modular Fluidizable Occupant Support and Compact Fluidizable Modules
An occupant support includes at least one non-fluidizable module 100 having a support structure for supporting the non-fluidizable module on a ground surface 76 and at least one fluidizable module 66 also having a support structure for supporting the fluidizable module on the ground surface. The fluidizable and non-fluidizable modules cooperate with each other to support an occupant. The support for the non-fluidizable module bears less than all the weight of the fluidizable module and, in the limit bears none of the weight. An alternative occupant support includes at least one non-fluidizable module and at least one fluidizable module cooperable with the fluidizable module to support an occupant. The fluidizable module is sized to support no more than about 50 percent of the length of an adult human body and most preferably no more than about 30 percent.
This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application 61/159,996 entitled “Modular Fluidizable Occupant Support and Compact Fluidizable Modules” filed on Mar. 13, 2009.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe subject matter described herein relates to fluidizable occupant supports and particularly to a modular fluidizable occupant support and a compact fluidizable module for use as a component of the modular occupant support or as a stand-alone unit.
BACKGROUNDHealth care professionals may recommend the use of fluidizable beds for patients who suffer from skin disorders or who would be at significant risk of developing skin disorders as a result of occupying a non-fluidizable bed. A typical fluidizable bed includes a vessel and a porous diffuser board or plate separating the interior volume of the vessel into a supply plenum and a fluidizable medium receptacle. The supply plenum is connected to a source of pressurized gas, usually ambient air that has been compressed by a compressor. A fluidizable particulate material, usually in the form of small beads, resides in the fluidizable medium receptacle. A liner is secured to the containment vessel near a rim thereof. A filter sheet is joined to the liner at a seam. The seam is tight enough to resist migration of the beads through the seam and ideally is also substantially fluid-tight. A gas permeable vent region of the filter sheet extends across the top of the containment vessel. The vent region has pores that are small enough to resist migration of the beads through the filter sheet. When the fluidizable bed is not in a state of fluidized operation, the vent region of the filter sheet is in a slack or relaxed state.
During fluidized operation, pressurized air enters the air distribution chamber, flows through the diffuser partition and the fluidizable material, and exhausts through the filter sheet. The velocity of the air flowing through the material “fluidizes” the material so that the material and air, taken together, exhibit fluid-like properties. As a result, the occupant of the bed is supported on a quasi-fluid having a specific gravity greater than that of the occupant. Such a system of support is beneficial for occupants suffering from skin disorders or at significant risk of developing skin disorders.
One drawback of fluidizable beds is the weight of the fluidizable material and the transportability of the bed as a whole. Fluidizable beds typically weigh about 1000-1600 pounds (455-727 kg.), a considerable portion of which is the weight of the fluidizable material. Because of the specialized nature of fluidizable beds, they are frequently rented, rather than owned, and must therefore be frequently transported from one site to another. Even if a bed is owned, for example by a health care facility, it may need to be regularly transported from room to room. The weight is obviously a disadvantage in a frequently transported product. In addition, fluidizable beds may be used in a home care setting where the building structure may not be designed to support such heavy weight. Moreover, the fluidizable material must be periodically cleaned, usually at a site remote from the bed. The large volume and weight of the fluidizable material contributes to the cost, time and effort required to carry out the cleansing. The above drawbacks are amplified in fluidizable beds designed for heavier occupants, including bariatric occupants.
SUMMARYThe subject matter disclosed herein reflects a recognition that not all patients require fluidized support across their entire body length and that providing support over less than the full length of the patient's body can yield noteworthy reductions in the weight and maintenance cost of a fluidizable occupant support as well as improvements in transportability of the support.
An occupant support as disclosed herein comprises at least one non-fluidizable module having a support structure for supporting the non-fluidizable module on a ground surface and at least one fluidizable module also having a support structure for supporting the fluidizable module on the ground surface. The fluidizable module and the non-fluidizable module are cooperable with each other to support an occupant. The support structure for the non-fluidizable module is designed to bear less than all of the weight of the fluidizable module.
Also disclosed herein is an occupant support including at least one non-fluidizable module and at least one fluidizable module cooperable with the non-fluidizable module to support an occupant. The fluidizable module is sized to support less than the full length of an adult human body.
Also disclosed herein is a compact fluidizable module useable as a component of the occupant support or as a stand-alone unit.
The features of the various embodiments of the occupant support described herein will become more apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
The bed also includes a liner 34 secured to the containment vessel. A snap fit seam 38 joins the filter sheet 24 to the liner. The seam is tight enough to resist migration of the beads past the seam. Ideally the seam is also fluid-tight. The filter sheet includes a substantially impermeable containment region 40 extending along the perimeter wall 16, and also has a permeable vent region 42 overlying the top of the vessel. When the blower is not operating, at least the vent region of the filter sheet is in a slack or relaxed state. The vent region is constructed so that, despite its permeability, the beads cannot escape through the filter sheet.
Some beds of the type described above are constructed so that the fluidized medium supports an occupant throughout all of the occupant's length (height). Other beds are constructed so that the fluidized medium supports the occupant over less than all of the occupant's length, but nevertheless over a large proportion of his or her length. The large volume of beads gives rise to the disadvantages previously described.
Each deck section accommodates a non-fluidizable cushion such as cushions 90 and 92. Alternatively, the deck sections may be omitted and the cushions installed directly on the frame, if desired. Cushions 90, 92 are illustrated as air bladders, but may be foam or any other non-fluidizable construction. The cushions can be built in to the deck sections or frame or may be user separable from the deck sections or frame. The phrase “user separable” means that the cushions can be removed from the deck section or frame without the use of special tools, skills or knowledge. For example the cushions are user separable if they can be removed and installed by the attending medical staff in a health care facility or by a home caregiver rather than requiring the intervention of maintenance or service personnel.
The occupant support also includes a fluidizable module 100, shown in isolation in
Referring to
As is evident from
Due to the hybrid character of the modular occupant supports described above, only part of the occupant is supported by the fluidizable module. Such partial fluidized support may be satisfactory for occupants who require the benefits of the fluidized medium along only a portion of their body. Because the fluidizable module 100 is compact in comparison to prior fluidizable constructions, which are designed for all or nearly all of an occupant's length, the overall weight of the occupant support 60 is substantially reduced. Moreover, the fluidizable module 100 is separable from the non-fluidizable module, which further eases the burdens of transporting the occupant support. For example, the frame 74 of the non-fluidizable module can be raised as seen in
Referring to
The fluidizable module may be height adjustable relative to the floor instead of or in addition to the frame being height adjustable relative to the floor in order to facilitate mating and unmating of the fluidizable and non-fluidizable modules.
Referring now to
The fluidizable module may also be used as a stand-alone device rather than in conjunction with a non-fluidizable module. For example the fluidizable module shown in isolation in
Referring to
Although this disclosure refers to specific embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the subject matter set forth in the accompanying claims.
Claims
1. An occupant support comprising:
- at least one non-fluidizable module having a support for supporting the non-fluidizable module on a ground surface;
- at least one fluidizable module also having a support for supporting the fluidizable module on the ground surface;
- the fluidizable module and the non-fluidizable module being cooperable with each other to support an occupant; and
- the support for the non-fluidizable module bearing less than all of the weight of the fluidizable module.
2. The occupant support of claim 1 wherein the support for the non-fluidizable module bears none of the weight of the fluidizable module.
3. The occupant support of claim 1 wherein at least one of the fluidizable module and the non-fluidizable module is elevation adjustable.
4. The occupant support of claim 1 wherein the non-fluidizable module accommodates a cushion.
5. The occupant support of claim 1 wherein the non-fluidizable module includes a built-in cushion.
6. The occupant support of claim 1 wherein the nonfluidizable module includes a user separable cushion.
7. The occupant support of claim 1 wherein the non-fluidizable module includes at least two stations, at least one of the stations being capable of receiving a fluidizable cushion.
8. The occupant support of claim 7 wherein at least one of the stations is capable of receiving a non-fluidizable cushion.
9. The occupant support of claim 7 including cushions at each station and wherein an inter-cushion filler bridges from each cushion to an adjacent cushion.
10. The occupant support of claim 7 wherein each station capable of receiving a fluidizable cushion comprises a fluidizable module opening and the occupant support includes a cover for occupying the fluidizable module opening when the opening is not used to accommodate an fluidizable module.
11. The occupant support of claim 1 wherein the fluidizable module is portable.
12. The occupant support of claim 1 wherein the fluidizable module is sized to support no more than about 30 percent of the length of an adult human body wherein the length of the adult human body is based on anthropometric data for an adult.
13. The occupant support of claim 11 wherein the fluidizable module is sized to support no more than about 30 percent of the length of an adult human body wherein the length of the adult human body is based on anthropometric data for an adult.
14. The occupant support of claim 12 wherein the length of an adult human body is the length of a 95th percentile male.
15. The occupant support of claim 13 wherein the length of an adult human body is the length of a 95th percentile male.
16. The occupant support of claim 1 wherein at least part of the non-fluidizable module is adjustable relative to the rest of the non-fluidizable module.
17. The occupant support of claim 1 wherein the quantity of fluidizable modules and non-fluidizable modules is at least two, all of the at least two modules being supportable on the ground surface independently of the other modules.
18. An occupant support comprising:
- at least one non-fluidizable module;
- at least one fluidizable module;
- the fluidizable module and the non-fluidizable module being cooperable with each other to support the occupant; and
- the fluidizable module being sized to support no more than about 30 percent of the length of an adult human body.
19. The occupant support of claim 18 comprising a support system shared by the fluidizable module and the non-fluidizable module for supporting the occupant support on a ground surface.
20. A fluidizable module comprising:
- a containment vessel;
- a filter sheet secured to the containment vessel
- a diffuser plate separating an interior volume of the vessel into a supply plenum and a fluidizable medium receptacle, the fluidizable medium receptacle also being bounded by the filter sheet;
- a fluidizable medium contained in the fluidizable medium receptacle;
- the module being sized for no more than about 30 percent of the length of an adult human body.
21. The fluidizable module of claim 18 comprising at least one wheel secured to the module for imparting mobility thereto.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 27, 2010
Publication Date: Sep 16, 2010
Patent Grant number: 10231891
Inventors: Charles A. Howell (Batesville, IN), Scott Peer (Woodbury, MN)
Application Number: 12/694,543